After being privy to the observations and objections raised privately by Indonesian friends to the misuse of religious conversion in mixed marriages (Tamu + Indonesian) one is forced to bring this out in the open to highlight the resultant side effects…the generation of disenfranchised children born of these marriages.

Presently, there exists a growing trend among expats/Tamu in Bali and other parts of Indonesia to resort to the convenient way to get married to an Indonesian…convert to Islam.

This does not appear to be a problem per se but it does raise a number of issues that need to be urgently redressed not only by local communities but also government and foreign embassies.

Some say that converting to Islam is easy: contact a Muslim cleric, confess your sins, convert to Islam, promising to follow the precepts laid down by this great Faith.

Quite often the ’converted’ who carry a Muslim name in their wallet do not make the change in their passport, inform/register the marriage with Indonesian authorities and further do not follow the basic principles of the Faith, even in the food they eat or the lifestyle they live.

This is an insult to Islam and its followers.

Respecting the Faith (Islam) is the first casualty. Following closely is the fate of the children from these marriages.
By what Faith are they brought up? What cultural values are instilled in them? What are their legal rights in Indonesia, as well as, the home country of the ‘foreign’ parent?

And how does one arrive at the answers when many such marriages are not ‘registered’ with relevant Indonesian authorities and the concerned foreign embassy.

To add to the problems of the children is the known fact that the ‘foreign’ parent, in some cases, has divorced and remarried more than once under Islamic rites.

One wonders what the fate of these children will be (domestic disturbances aside) in the event of the death of the ‘foreign’ parent, diplomatic disputes or worse still, war.

It has been suggested that government must use the Banjar, local polisi, immigration and the foreign embassies to ensure registration of all such marriages. Further, the passports of those who have converted must be amended accordingly,

One is not suggesting a Right Wing approach but the need of the hour is to protect/uphold/enforce the rights of these disenfranchised children; And in addition, to do the same for the Indonesian spouse.